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Federal officials has stated that funds from a federal initiative that subsidizes airline routes to rural airports are scheduled to end as early as this weekend because of the current federal funding lapse.

Federal transportation authorities indicated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service initiative are likely to end as early as this weekend after the department transferred separate financial resources from the FAA as an temporary measure.

The department is in the process of alerting airline operators about the funding shortfall and informing communities about possible impacts.

Federal authorities allocates approximately $350m in annual funding for the program.

In recent months, the administration proposed cutting funding by $308 million for the air service program, which enjoys popularity among Republican lawmakers because it provides services to rural, largely Republican areas.

Throughout the first presidency of the former president, the White House suggested terminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but Congress chose to boost funding instead.

This initiative typically supports two return flights daily using medium-sized planes – or more frequent flights with smaller aircraft. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 communities in Alaska have air access and 112 locations across the other 49 states and the territory that likely wouldn't have any airline service.

“Every state nationwide will be impacted,” the transportation chief commented during a press conference, observing the service had bipartisan support. “We don't have the funding for that initiative moving forward.”